Agenda Packets - 2001/10/08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Extract of Minutes (Unapproved) Planning Commission September 19, 2001 make the sign as unobtrusive as a billboard can be. Commissioner Scotch indicated she thought the Company had three sizes of signs. Mr. Cronin indicated the Company used to have a 10.5 x 36 sign but indicated that size is being phased out. Commissioner Scotch questioned whether the vinyl wrap type sign was new, as that was her impression from the previous meeting. Mr. McCarver from Clear Channel Outdoor indicated that the monument type base for the sign is new for the Company, not the vinyl wrap signs. Commissioner Scotch indicated that she was aware of how much the Company makes off of its billboards and indicated that, even if the sign were smaller, the Company would still do very well. Mr. McCarver agreed with Commissioner Scotch that it makes sense for the Company to expand and improve the sign. He then indicated that the improved aesthetics are costly and said the Company is counting on the expanded billboard to offset the costs of the improved aesthetics. Commissioner Johnson asked if Walgreens was notified and then questioned whether the expanded sign would affect the line of sight for Walgreens. Commissioner Scotch indicated she did not feel the sign would obstruct the line of sight for Walgreens but said she felt the sign is very large and could be smaller. Commissioner Johnson indicated that billboards are big and said he feels it is better to have a nice looking big billboard than an ugly existing billboard. Director Ericson indicated that Walgreens was not notified and indicated that there was no requirement to do so. He then indicated that he did not feel the sign would negatively impact Walgreens. Mr. McCarver indicated the sign base is five feet high from grade to the top of the cap. Mr. Cronin expressed appreciation for the opportunity to improve the sign and indicated that the Company understood the conditions that staff has recommended and fully accepts those. He then respectfully requested that the Planning Commission move to adopt the Resolution recommending approval to the City Council. Commissioner Hegland expressed concern that allowing this expansion of the billboard would set the City up to be required to allow an expansion at some point in the future. Mr. McCarver indicated that the sign structure is 55 feet wide but noted the copy is only 48 feet long. He further explained that due to OSHA requirements there needs to be a three-foot catwalk around the perimeter of the sign. He then suggested that the Resolution be amended to reflect that the Company is limited to a copy size of 48 feet for clarification. Mr. McCarver then indicated that the Company could not build a 20 x 60 sign anymore because the state only allows 1000 square feet for billboards.